Birds of Paradise - Paradisaeidae Listing of Species (including hybrids and formerly included species) Distribution / Range They are found in Australasia regions of eastern Indonesia , Torres Strait Islands, Papua New Guinea , and eastern Australia They live in tropical forests, including rainforest, swamps and moss forest. Description The members of this family are perhaps best known for the plumage of the males of most species, in particular highly elongated and elaborate feathers extending from the beak, wings or head. Birds of paradise range in size from the King Bird of Paradise at 50 grams (1.8 oz) and 15 cm (6 in) to the Black Sicklebill at 110 cm (43 in) and the Curl-crested Manucode at 430 grams (15.2 oz Amazing Bird of Paradise Movie: As part of the Birds-of-Paradise Project through the below dazzling video was taken by Cornell Lab scientist Ed Scholes and National Geographic photographer Tim Laman. As the below trailer shows, the opulent plumes and fantastical dances of these 39 species astound us, leaving us with the most profound of scientific questions: Watch them dance.

Biology Birds of paradise are generally crow-like in general body-form, and, indeed are the brother group to the Corvids (crows and jays). They have stout or long bills and strong feet, with around two-thirds of the species being strongly sexually dimorphic. Diet / Feeding In most species, the diet consists predominantly of fruit, although riflebirds and sicklebills also favour insects and other arthropods. Breeding / Nesting Most species have elaborate mating rituals, with the Paradisaea species using a lek-type mating system. Others, such as the Cicinnurus and Parotia species, have highly ritualised mating dances. Males are polygamous in the sexually dimorphic species, but monogamous in at least some of the monomorphic species. Hybridisation is frequent in these birds, suggesting the polygamous species of bird of paradise are very closely related despite being in different genera. Many hybrids have been described as new species, and doubt remains regarding whether some forms, such as Rothschild's Lobe-billed Bird of Paradise , are valid. Despite the presence of hybrids, some ornithologists hypothesise that at least some putative hybrids are valid species that may be extinct.

Birds of paradise build their nests from soft materials, such as leaves, ferns, and vine tendrils, typically placed in a tree fork. Clutch size is somewhat uncertain. In the large species, it is almost always just one egg. Smaller species may produce clutches of 2-3. Eggs hatch after 16–22 days, and the young leave the nest at between 16 and 30 days of age. The manucodes are the most primitive members of the group. Species (including hybrids) Use by humans Best known are the members of the genus Paradisaea , including the type species, the Greater Bird of Paradise , Paradisaea apoda. This species was described from specimens brought back to Europe from trading expeditions. These specimens had been prepared by native traders by removing their wings and feet so that they could be used as decorations. This was not known to the explorers and led to the belief that the birds never landed but were kept permanently aloft by their plumes. This is the origin of both the name "birds of paradise" and the specific name apoda — without feet.

Societies of New Guinea often use bird of paradise plumes in their dress and rituals, and the plumes were popular in Europe in past centuries as adornment for ladies' millinery. Hunting for plumes and habitat destruction have reduced some species to endangered status; habitat destruction due to deforestation is now the predominant threat. Hunting Hunting of birds of paradise has occurred for a long time, possibly since the beginning of human settlement. It is a peculiarity that among the most frequently-hunted species, males start mating opportunistically even before they grow their ornamental plumage. This may be an adaptation maintaining population levels in the face of hunting pressures, which have probably been present for 30 millennia. Hunting birds of paradise for their plumes for the millinery trade was extensive in the late 19th and early 20th century, but today the birds enjoy legal protection and hunting is only permitted at a sustainable level to fulfill the ceremonial needs of the local tribal population. In the case of Pteridophora plumes, scavenging from old bowerbird bowers is encouraged.

When King Mahendra of Nepal was crowned in 1955, it was found that the bird of paradise plumes of the Nepali royal crown were in need of replacement. Due to the hunting ban, replacements were eventually procured from a confiscated shipment seized by the United States Customs Service. Other examples The southern hemisphere constellation Apus represents a bird of paradise. An adult-plumaged male bird of paradise is depicted on the Flag of Papua New Guinea. The various members of the family were profiled by David Attenborough in Attenborough in Paradise. Copyright: Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License . It uses material from Wikipedia.org . Additional information added by Avianweb. Please Note: The articles or images on this page are the sole property of the authors or photographers. Please contact them directly with respect to any copyright or licensing questions. Thank you. BeautyOfBirds strives to maintain accurate and up-to-date information; however, mistakes do happen. If you would like to correct or update any of the information, please send us an e-mail . THANK YOU!

Bird-of-paradise | All Birds Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Template:Child taxa/Paradisaeinae The birds-of-paradise are members of the family Paradisaeidae of the order Passeriformes . The majority of species in this family are found on the island of New Guinea and its satellites, with a few species occurring in the Moluccas and eastern Australia . The family has forty species in 14 genera . The members of this family are perhaps best known for the plumage of the males of most species, in particular highly elongated and elaborate feathers extending from the beak, wings or head. For the most part they are confined to dense rainforest habitat. The diet of all species is dominated by fruit and to a lesser extent arthropods. The birds-of-paradise have a variety of breeding systems, ranging from monogamy to lek -based polygamy . The family is of cultural importance to the inhabitants of New Guinea. The trade in skins and feathers of the birds-of-paradise has been going on for two thousand years; and, the birds have been of considerable interest to Western collectors, ornithologists and writers as well.

A number of species are threatened by hunting and habitat loss . Contents [ show ] Description Birds of paradise are generally crow-like in general body-form, and, indeed, are the brother group to the corvids (crows and jays). Birds-of-paradise range in size from the King Bird-of-paradise at 50 g (1.8 oz) and 15 cm (5.9 in) to the Curl-crested Manucode at 44 cm (17 in) and 430 g (15 oz). The male Black Sicklebill , with its long tail, is the longest species at 110 cm (43 in). In most of the males are larger and longer than the female, the differences ranging from slight to extreme. The wings are rounded and in some species structurally modified on the males in order to make sound. There is considerable variation in the family with regard to bill shape. Bills may be long and decurved, as in the sicklebills and riflebirds, or small and slim like the Astrapias .

As with body size on average bill size varies with sex, although species where the females have larger bills than the male are more common, particularly in the insect eating species. [1] For reasons of camouflage plumage of the females typically blends well with their habitat, unlike the bright attractive colors found on the males. [2] Plumage variation between the sexes is closely related to breeding system. The manucodes and Paradise-crow, which are socially monogamous, are sexually monomorphic. So are the two species of Paradigalla , which are polygamous. All these species have generally black plumage with varying amounts of green and blue iridescence . [1] Habitat and distribution Brown Sicklebills are montane species The centre of bird-of-paradise diversity is the large island of New Guinea ; all but two genera are found in New Guinea. The two that are not are the monotypic genera Lycocorax and Semiptera , both of which are endemic to the Moluccas , to the west of New Guinea.

Of the riflebirds in the genus Ptiloris , two are endemic to the coastal forests of eastern Australia , one occurs in both Australia and New Guinea, and one is only found in New Guinea. The only other genus to have a species outside New Guinea is Manucodia , one representative of which is found in the extreme north of Queensland . The remaining species are restricted to New Guinea and some of the surrounding islands. Many species have highly restricted ranges, particularly a number of species with restricted habitat types such as mid-montane forest (like the Black Sicklebill ) or island endemics (like the Wilson's Bird-of-paradise ). [1] The majority of birds-of-paradise live in tropical forests, including rainforest , swamps and moss forest , [1] nearly all of them solitary tree dwellers. [2] Several species have been recorded in coastal mangroves. [3] The southernmost species, the Paradise Riflebird of Australia , lives in sub-tropical and temperate wet forests. As a group the manucodes are the most plastic in their habitat requirements, with in particular the Glossy-mantled Manucode inhabiting both forest and open savanna woodland.

[1] Mid-montane habitats are the most commonly occupied habitat, with thirty of the forty species occurring in the 1000–2000 m altitudinal band. [3] Behaviour Diet and feeding Male Greater Bird-of-paradise displaying The diet of the birds-of-paradise is dominated by fruit and arthropods. The ratio of the two food types varies by species, with fruit predominating in some species, and arthropods dominating the diet in others. The ratio of the two will affect other aspects of the behaviour of the species, for example frugivorous species tend to feed in the forest canopy, whereas insectivores may feed lower down. Frugivores are more social than the insectivores, which are more solitary and territorial . [1] Breeding Most species have elaborate mating rituals, with the Paradisaea species using a lek -type mating system. Others, such as the Cicinnurus and Parotia species, have highly ritualised mating dances. Males are polygamous in the sexually dimorphic species, but monogamous in at least some of the monomorphic species.

Hybridisation is frequent in these birds, suggesting the polygamous species of bird of paradise are very closely related despite being in different genera. Many hybrids have been described as new species, and doubt remains regarding whether some forms, such as Rothschild's Lobe-billed Bird of Paradise , are valid.[ citation needed ] Despite the presence of hybrids, some ornithologists hypothesise that at least some putative hybrids are valid species that may be extinct. [4] Birds-of-paradise build their nests from soft materials, such as leaves, ferns, and vine tendrils, typically placed in a tree fork. [5] Clutch size is somewhat uncertain. In the large species, it is almost always just one egg. Smaller species may produce clutches of 2–3. [6] Eggs hatch after 16–22 days, and the young leave the nest at between 16 and 30 days of age. [5] Taxonomy and systematics For many years the birds-of-paradise were treated as being closely related to the bowerbirds . Today while both are treated as being part of the Australasian lineage Corvida , the two are now only thought to be distantly related.

The closest evolutionary relatives of the birds-of-paradise are the crow and jay family Corvidae , the monarch flycatchers Monarchidae and the Australian mudnesters Struthideidae . [1] A 2009 study examining the mitochondrial DNA of all species to examine the relationships within the family and to its nearest relatives estimated that the family emerged 24 million years ago, older than previous estimates. The study identified five clades within the family, and placed the split between the first clade, which contains the monogamous manucodes and Paradise-crow , and all the other birds-of-paradise, to be 10 million years ago. The second clade includes the parotias and the King of Saxony Bird-of-paradise . The third clade provisionally contains a number of genera, Seleucidis, the Drepanornis sicklebills, Semioptera, Ptiloris and Lophorina, but support values for some of these is inclusions is low. The fourth clade includes the Epimachus sicklebills, Paradigalla and the astrapias.

The final clade includes the Cicinnurus and the Paradisaea birds-of-paradise. [7] The exact limits of the family have been the subject of revision as well. The three species of satinbird (the genera Cnemophilus and Loboparadisea ) were treated as a subfamily of the birds-of-paradise, Cnemophilinae. In spite of differences in the mouth, foot morphology and nesting habits they remained in the family until a 2000 study moved them to a separate family closer to the berrypeckers and longbills ( Melanocharitidae ). [8] The same study found that the Macgregor's Bird-of-paradise was actually a member of the large Australasian honeyeater family. In addition to these three species, a number of systematically enigmatic species and genera have been considered potential members of this family. The two species in the genus Melampitta, also from New Guinea, have been linked with the birds-of-paradise, [9] but their relationships remain uncertain, more recently being linked with the Australian mudnesters.

[1] The Silktail of Fiji has been linked with the birds-of-paradise many times since its discovery, but never formerly assigned to the family. Recent molecular evidence now places the species with the fantails . [10] Species Blue Bird-of-paradise , Paradisaea rudolphi Hybrids Hybrid birds of paradise may occur when individuals of different species, that look similar and have overlapping ranges, confuse each other for their own species and crossbreed. When Erwin Stresemann realised that hybridisation among birds-of-paradise might be an explanation as to why so many of the described species were so rare, he examinined many controversial specimens and, during the 1920s and 1930s, published several papers on his hypothesis. Many of the species described in the late 19th and early 20th centuries are now generally considered to be hybrids, though some are still subject to dispute; their status is not likely to be settled definitely without genetic examination of museum specimens.

Some named hybrids and presumed hybrids are: [11] Astrapian Sicklebill , also known as the Green-breasted Riflebird, was described as a species (Epimachus astrapioides Rothschild, 1897), but is a hybrid between the Arfak Astrapia and Black Sicklebill . Barnes' Astrapia , also known as Barnes’ Long-tail, was described as a species (Astrarchia barnesi Iredale , 1948), but is a hybrid between Ribbon-tailed Astrapia and Stephanie's Astrapia . Bensbach's Bird of Paradise , also known as Bensbach's Riflebird, was described as a species (Janthothorax bensbachi Büttikofer , 1894), but is presumed to be a hybrid between the Magnificent Riflebird and Lesser Bird of Paradise . Blood's Bird of Paradise , also known as Captain Blood’s Bird of Paradise, was described as a species (Paradisea bloodi Iredale, 1948), but is a hybrid between the Raggiana Bird of Paradise and Blue Bird of Paradise .

File:Paradisaea rudolph -Papua New Guinea-4.jpg Societies of New Guinea often use bird-of-paradise plumes in their dress and rituals , and the plumes were popular in Europe in past centuries as adornment for ladies' millinery . Hunting for plumes and habitat destruction have reduced some species to endangered status; habitat destruction due to deforestation is now the predominant threat. [1] Best known are the members of the genus Paradisaea , including the type species , the Greater Bird-of-paradise , Paradisaea apoda. This species was described from specimens brought back to Europe from trading expeditions in the early sixteenth century. These specimens had been prepared by native traders by removing their wings and feet so that they could be used as decorations. This was not known to the explorers, and in the absence of information many beliefs arose about them. They were briefly thought to be the mythical phoenix . The often footless and wingless condition of the skins led to the belief that the birds never landed but were kept permanently aloft by their plumes. The first Europeans to encounter their skins, were the voyagers of Magellan 's circumnavigation of the Earth .

Antonio Pigafetta , wrote that they "The people told us that those birds came from the terrestrial paradise, and they call them bolon diuata, that is to say, 'birds of God". [12] This is the origin of both the name "bird of paradise" and the specific name apoda — without feet. [13] An alternate account by Maximilianus Transylvanus used the term Mamuco Diata, a variant of Manucodiata, which was used as a synonym for Birds of Paradise up to the 19th century Hunting Hunting of birds of paradise has occurred for a long time, possibly since the beginning of human settlement. It is a peculiarity that among the most frequently-hunted species, males start mating opportunistically even before they grow their ornamental plumage.

This may be an adaptation maintaining population levels in the face of hunting pressures, which have probably been present for hundreds of years.[ citation needed ] Hunting birds-of-paradise for their plumes for the millinery trade was extensive in the late 19th and early 20th century, [14] but today the birds enjoy legal protection and hunting is only permitted at a sustainable level to fulfill the ceremonial needs of the local tribal population. In the case of Pteridophora plumes, scavenging from old bowerbird bowers is encouraged. Other examples Birds of Paradise | The Flower Expert - Exotic Flowers Buy From OurStores Birds of Paradise The Birds of Paradise is one of the most colorful flowers in the world. The name Bird of Paradise comes from its spectacular flower shape which resembles a bird's beak and head plumage. Birds of Paradise, also known as Crane flowers is one of the most beautiful Exotic Flowers . Birds of Paradise are native to South Africa. Birds of Paradise bloom from September through May. The flowers of the Birds of Paradise resemble a brightly colored bird in flight and so the name Birds of Paradise.

Kingdom Genus Strelitzia The unusually beautiful shape and brilliant colors of Birds of Paradise have made these flowers not just a designer's favorite, but also a popular symbol of paradise. The popular Birds-of-Paradise plant bears a unique flower that resembles a brightly colored bird in flight, giving it the common name, Bird of Paradise. The Birds-of-Paradise flowers make the plant an exceptionally attractive landscape plant. The Birds of Paradise foliage resembles small banana leaves with long petioles. The leaves on the Birds of Paradise plant are arranged strictly in two ranks to form a fan-like crown of evergreen foliage, thick, waxy, and glossy green, making it a very attractive ornamental plant. The leaf blades are 6 inches wide and 18 inches long. The Birds of Paradise plant usually reaches a height of 4 feet. Birds of Paradise flowers are produced in a horizontal inflorescence emerging from a stout spathe. The Birds of Paradise flower inflorescence is borne atop long scapes, or pedicels, that grow to 5 feet or more in height. The flower on the Birds of Paradise plant is the most unusual part.

A series of highly colored bracts, or modified leaves, are formed into green, red, and or purplish canoe-like structures. Bracts vary between 4-8 inches long, depending upon the age and size of the Birds of Paradise plant. Each Birds of Paradise flower is made up of three upright orange sepals and three highly modified vivid blue petals. Two of the petals are joined together in a structure resembling an arrowhead with the third petal forming a nectary at the base of the flower. Each bract contains 2 or more protruding Birds of Paradise florets of bright yellow or orange elongated petals and a bright blue tongue. The female part of the Birds of Paradise flower is the long extension of the blue tongue, which is extended well away from the stamens. from our stores - Pickupflowers - the flower expert Pollination in Birds of Paradise When a pollinator, usually a sunbird, lands on the arrowhead in search of nectar, the anthers are levered clear of the Birds of Paradise flower and deposit pollen on the breast of the bird. When the bird flies to another plant, this pollen is transferred to the stigma of the new flower.

Then the resulting fruit is a leathery capsule containing numerous small seeds, each with an orange aril (an outgrowth from the seed similar to the red sheath around yew seeds) and an oil body, possibly to attract birds. Facts About Birds of Paradise Birds of Paradise are the mid-sized staples of tropical bouquets. Birds of Paradise need to be bound together, or supported in some way in larger vases and may bruise smaller flowers. Birds of Paradise are often thought of as the symbol of tropical flowers . Birds of Paradise are medium-sized exotic blooms that instantly evoke palm trees, but do not last longer than a week. The name Birds of Paradise comes from the spectacular flower shape, which resembles a bird's beak and head plumage. Because of the banana shaped leaves and other plant characteristics Birds of Paradise was classified in the banana family Musaceae. Some More Popular Species of Birds of Paradise Strelitzia alba/syn. S. augusta - White Birds of Paradise Strelitzia caudata/Swaziland Strelitzia - African desert banana Strelitzia nicolai - White, or Giant Birds of Paradise; Wild banana Strelitzia reginae/S.

parvifolia - Strelitzia, Birds of Paradise, or Crane lily Growing Birds of Paradise The soil around Birds of Paradise plant needs to be kept moist all spring and summer but should be allowed to dry out slightly between watering in the fall and winter. Try to avoid temperatures below 50 degrees. Birds of Paradise need indoor temperatures. Feed your Birds of Paradise every other week during spring and summer with a liquid such as Schultz's Instant Plant Food or a water-soluble fertilizer such as Bachman's Excel-Gro, and a quality peat-based potting soil. Cut back to once a month in fall and winter. A quality peat-based potting soil such as Bachman's Exceloam is perfect for the Birds of Paradise plant. When Birds of Paradise plants are young and actively growing, repot them every spring so that they have plenty of room. As the Birds of Paradise mature (and have bloomed for a year or two), they can be carefully divided. Remember that this will keep the plant from blooming again for several years! Birds of Paradise are also propagated from seed. Birds of Paradise Plant Care The Bird of Paradise does require a good amount of sunlight.

Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system for the Birds of Paradise. Watering can be reduced after establishment. Feed Birds of Paradise plants with a general purpose fertilizer before new growth begins in spring. Floral preservative for Birds of Paradise is recommended and is available commercially. from our stores - Pickupflowers - the flower expert Subscribe Get 10% off on pickupflowers.com explore Bird-of-Paradise family Paradisaeidae a web page by Don Roberson 39 species in tropical Australasia, primarily New Guinea DR personal total: 28 species (72%), 2 photo'd As a family the Paradisaeidae are the most impressive set of birds in the world. Although they are just highly-modified corvoids (Sibley & Ahlquist 1990), a detail hinted at by their raucous cries, the variety and beauty of the plumes, shields, streamers, wires, and plumage of the males is truly astonishing. The birds-of-paradise evolved in New Guinea, a land with abundant food but without mammalian predators. This permitted the development of a lek system with females selecting the most gaudy male.

Perhaps the most famous BOPs are the genus Paradisaea, of which Raggiana Bird-of-Paradise (left in a glowing photo by Simon Woolley & Julia Casson) is a good example. There are seven species in Paradisaea, including Blue Bird-of-Paradise (inset below; art by Arthur Singer) that I've chosen as among the " best birds of the world " because it is spectacular; has an unworldly "upside-down" display; and is limited to a very small montane area of Papua New Guinea. As it turns out, I included four birds-of-paradise ["BOP" in birder lingo] among my choices for the "best birds in the world," more than any other family of birds. Yet the standard Paradisaea birds-of-paradise are not my choices for the most spectacular BOPs. For those I pick the genera Parotia, Cicinnurus, Drepanornis, Epimachus, and Semioptera. Those in the first two genera perform incredible displays on carefully tended dancing grounds on the forest floor.

The Drepanornis sicklebills have inverted poses high in a display tree while Epimachus sicklebills and Semioptera standardwing distort into unworldly poses. These displays are rarely witnessed. For the forest-floor dancers, one must have a blind (which locals construct out of forest materials on the spot) and a lot of time and patience. The first films of dancing parotias were acquired in the 1990s and now highlight the BBC film Attenborough in Paradise (the best bird film I have ever seen). My friend Will Betz, working with National Geographic, obtained this shot of a Carola's Parotia in full display (right), dancing in its "cape" on the forest floor. Limits of this web media preclude seeing details shown in the original photo, such as the six thin wires being waved from the crown. You must see the BBC video to observe the frenzy to which the male works himself up in his unbelievable performance. None of the spectacular birds-of-paradise surpass Wilson's Bird-of-Paradise in electric plumage (above). I've chosen it as the best passerine in the entire world (shown wonderfully in this photo, above, by Rob Hutchinson).

It is limited in distribution to the islands of Waigeo and Batanta off the western tip of New Guinea. In the field the blue bare skin on the crown is so vivid you could read by it at night, the deep scarlet back and velvet green breast are lush, and the curlicue tail gleams bright silver. These outrageous colors and its remarkable display are shown in the BBC film Attenborough in Paradise. which was the first to obtain videos of this exotic creature. That film also delves into the history of western knowledge of these birds, which were once thought to exist only high above the earth, without feet or wings, and living on the dew of the heavens! Another unforgettable display is that of a a male King-of-Saxony Bird-of-Paradise (below in an excellent shot by K. David Bishop). With its two unbelievable head plumes that are held in a "V" above the head, quivering, when he goes into full display, it is also among the most astonishing of the birds-of-paradise. Its voice sounds like radio static. His enthusiasm is as energetic as any bop, and that is shown in the BBC film.

Until recently, I had not photographed any bird-of-paradise in the wild. My friend Steve Wilson photographed the wild displaying Lesser Bird-of-Paradise (left) during our 1983 visit to Papua New Guinea. I watched the latter bird — in its display tree at Baiyer River Sanctuary, back when that was a reasonably safe place to visit — as can be seen from the self-timer photo below (I'm flanked by Steve Wilson, left, and Chris Spooner, right). I finally got my first photo of a BOP on Halmahera island in Indonesia in 2011: this displaying Wallace's Standardwing (left 2 pics) high in the canopy above me, with a flash at dawn. Again, it is the BBC film Attenborough in Paradise that has incredible footage of its display, including the maneuvers made with the white 'standards' attached to the front of its wing. Dawn is also the only time to see the display of Black Sicklebill (right, in a shot by Will Betz). See the Attenborough film for the display of this very local species, another "top 50" bird, which is almost impossible to believe.

Female sicklebills are quite lovely in her own plumage: a female Brown Sicklebill shows nicely in this shot (left) by Simon Woolley & Julia Casson. The patterns are subtle and rich, and just add more superlatives to any discussion of this family. In the gallery of three photos below, we can compare a female Victoria Riflebird (upper) as she checks out a displaying male (bottom two) who is engaging in loud vocalizations and in a full wing-spread display. These photos of Victoria Riflebird are by Hans & Judy Beste. They were taken in Queensland, Australia, where the Bestes once operated a birders' bed-and-breakfast named "Ptilornis" after riflebirds, the only genus of birds-of-paradise that occur widely in eastern Australia. Modified breast shields that form unworldly cravats are features of Wallace's Standardwing (of velvet green) and of Superb Bird-of-Paradise (of glowing blue, left, in another great shot by Will Betz).

Among other impressive BOPS are all of the five Astrapias whose long tail trains reach astonishing lengths the sago palm swamp specialist, the Twelve-wired Bird-of-Paradise Seleucidis melanoleuca (again, see the Attenborough film). In theory, male birds-of-paradise developed all these incredible ornaments and displays because of female sexual selection. In a land where babies can be raised and defended by females alone, a male is not needed to help feed the young or protect them. Females do these functions, and have evolved protective coloration to keep themselves inconspicuous. But they chose to mate with the most gaudy male available. Males, in turn, spend almost all their time trying to attract females. This has created incredible sexual dimorphism in the Paradisaeidae, and promoted rapid evolution in male plumages (Christidis & Schodde 1993). Those BOPs in the genus Cicinnurus dance on courts that they clear on the forest floor. This includes Wilson's Bird-of-Paradise and Magnificent Bird-of-Paradise C. magnificus.

An absolutely beautiful photo of the latter on a display court is in Coates (1990); there are wonderful shots of King Bird-of-Paradise C. regius at a forest pool there also. I have marveled at both of those species in the wild. More outstanding images of BOPs are in Frith & Frith (2009). Although I've emphasized the spectacular BOPs, and the extensive sexual dimorphism in these genera, there are primitive birds-of-paradise in which the sexes are similar. These are the five species of manucode (genus Manucodia; Trumpet Manucode sometimes separated as Phonygammus), two paradigallas (Paradigalla), and Paradise Crow Lycocorax pyrrhopterus of the Moluccas. The latter is shown perched high in the canopy of a Halmahera tree (right). As would be expected when there is not sexual dimorphism, these species are monogamous and form pair bonds. This is quite unlike the promiscuous behavior of the rest of the family.

Biochemical evidence (e.g., Sibley & Ahlquist 1990, Christidis & Schodde 1992, Nunn & Cracraft 1996, Cracraft & Feinstein 2000) shows that the manucode group are the only major lineage of birds-of-paradise that are a separate clade; they should probably be considered a subfamily of the Paradisaeidae. All the gorgeous, promiscuous BOPs are closely related, so much so that they may be better considered all the same genus. Under our current classification, there are many intergeneric hybrids known. This fact also suggests that all the famous BOPs are closely related despite their widely variable plumages. New evidence, though, has clarified the status of some of the lesser known and more obscure species. Recent biochemical studies show that the three cnemophiline birds-of-paradise (genera Cnemophilus and Loboparadisea) are not closely related to BOPs at all (Cracraft & Feinstein 2000) and belong in their own family ( Cnemophilidae ).

That same paper (Cracraft & Feinstein 2000) showed that "MacGregor's Bird-of-Paradise" Macgregoria pulchra was actually a giant honeyeater, close to Melipotes. That rather startling finding makes completely good sense to me — the bird was not like any other BOP. This means there are four fewer BOPs than had previously been thought. Frith & Beehler (1998), in their major review of this family, listed 42 biological species. [By contrast, Cracraft (1992) detailed about 90 "species" using the phylogenetic species concept.] I favor the biological species concept, so removing the 3 cnemophilines and MacGregor's leaves 38 BOPs in the Frith/Beehler review. Frith & Frith (2009) split the recently rediscovered Foja Parotia Parotia berlepschi as the 39th BOP. All the traditional literature, and Sibley & Monroe (1990), included two species of Melampitta among the birds-of-paradise.

These round-bodied, short-tailed, long-legged, ground-dwelling birds look rather like all-black ant-pittas. They are now assigned to their own family, the Melampittidae (Schodde & Christidis 2014). Photos: The Raggiana Bird-of-Paradise Paradisaea raggiana was photographed by Simon Woolley & Julia Casson in Varirata NP, Papua New Guinea, on 1 July 2009. Arthur Singer painted the Blue Bird-of-Paradise Paradisaea rudolphi, from Birds of the World (1961) by Austin & Singer (Golden Press).Will Betz took the almost unbelievable photo of Carola's Parotia Parotia carolae in full display at 5500' elevation at Crater Mt. Wildlife Management Area, Papua New Guinea, in Oct 1997. Rob Hutchinson digitally captured the beautiful male Wilson's Bird-of-Paradise Cicinnurus respublica on Batanta I., West Papua, Indonesia, in May 2009. K.

David Bishop photographed the displaying male King-of-Saxony Bird-of-Paradise Pteridophora alberti near Ambua Lodge, PNG, in Oct 2011. The displaying Lesser Bird-of-Paradise Paradisaea minor was photographed by Steve Wilson at Baiyer River Sanctuary, Papua New Guinea, on 25 Oct 1983. The two shots of Wallace's Standardwing Semioptera wallacii was at Foli, Halmahera, Indonesia, on 9 Oct 2011. Will Betz took the Black Sicklebill Epimachus meyeri photo at Crater Mt. WMA, PNG, in Oct 1997. Simon Woolley & Julia Casson graciously leant their photo of a female Brown Sicklebill Epimachus meyeri, Kwatu Lodge, PNG, during July 2009. Hans & Judy Beste captured on film the female and displaying male Victoria Riflebird Ptilornis victoriae at Julatten, Queensland, Australia, in 1983.

Will Betz photographed the displaying Superb Bird-of-Paradise Lophorina superba in the Wandammen Mts., West Papua, Indonesia. The Paradise Crow Lycocorax pyrrhopterus was at Foli, Halmahera, Indonesia, in Oct 2011. All photos © D. Roberson, except those © Will Betz, Rob Hutchinson, K. David Bishop, Simon Woolley & Julia Casson, Hans & Judy Beste, and Steve Wilson, who hold those copyrights; all used with permission, all rights reserved. Family book: Rating Frith, C.B., and B.M. Beehler. 1998. The Birds of Paradise. Oxford Univ. Press, Oxford. This is a superb family book by two of the world's leading experts on the family. Both have studied BOPs in the field extensively, and this book is right up-to-the-minute on what is known about behavior and ecology. It is in the Oxford Press's Bird Families of the World series which is becoming far and away the best series of family books.

This entry is a 600 page tome and outstanding in every way except one, which is why I give it 4 1/2 stars instead of 5: the plates (beautifully done by William Cooper) are painted in "field guide" style (a few have wonderfully mossy branches on which to perch). Perhaps it is just me, but I would much prefer individual full-page plates of each bird in situ, showing habitat and behavior, rather than static field guide poses on a white background. In that sense Cooper & Forshaw has better art. But this text is full of maps, sonograms, and line drawings of behavior, almost making up for this one small deficiency. Their taxonomic conclusions are a bit more conservative than many recent authors (e.g., they do not split the riflebirds into quite as many species as most), but the text does contain detailed justifications for their decisions. Family book: Rating Cooper, W.T., and J.M. Forshaw. 1977. The Birds of Paradise and Bower Birds. Collins, Sydney. For its time, this was a great book.

I have treasured it, and each of the spectacular full-page paintings of the birds and their habitat is etched in my memory. The text was about as good as one could get at the time, but it is now outdated. For several species, for example, it was said that the "display was unknown." This was the state of knowledge when I first visited New Guinea in 1983. There we watched (at Bruce Beehler's study site) the "unknown" display of Buff-tailed Sicklebill (a spectacular hanging-upside-down performance with machine gun calls), a behavior since formally described by Beehler (1987); likewise, the behavior and displays of Pale-billed Sicklebill, a completely mysterious bird according to this 1977 book, is now of record (Beehler & Beehler 1986). So one now enjoys this book for the artwork. Literature cited: Beehler, B.M. 1987. Ecology and behavior of the Buff-tailed Sicklebill (Paradisaeidae, Epimachus albertsii). Auk 104: 48-55.

Beehler, B.M., and C.H. Beehler. 1986. Observations on the ecology and behavior of the Pale-billed Sicklebill. Wilson Bull. 98: 505-515. Beehler, B.M., T.K. Pratt, and D.A. Zimmerman. 1986. Birds of New Guinea. Princeton Univ. Press, Princeton, N.J. Bock, W.J. 1963. Relationship between the birds of paradise and the bowerbirds. Condor 65:91-125. Christidis, L., and R. Schodde. 1992. Relationships among the Birds-of-Paradise (Paradisaeidae) and Bowerbirds (Ptilonorhynchidae), protein evidence. Australian Journal of Zoology 40: 343-353. Christidis, L., and R. Schodde. 1993. Sexual selection for novel partners, a mechanism for accelerated morphological evolution in the birds-of-paradise (Paradisaeidae). Bull. Brit.

Ornithol. Club 113:169-172. Coates, B.J. 1990. The Birds of Papua New Guinea. Part II. Dove Publ., Ltd., Alderley, Australia. Cracraft, J. 1992. The species of the birds-of-paradise (Paradisaeidae): applying the phylogenetic species concept to a complex pattern of diversification. Cladistics 8:1-43. Cracraft, J., and J. Feinstein. 2000. What is not a bird of paradise? Molecular and morphological evidence places Macgregoria in the Meliphagidae and the Cnemophilinae near the base of the corvoid tree. Proc. R. Soc. London B. 267:233-241. Frith, C.B., and D.W. Frith. 2009. Family Paradisaeidae (Birds of Paradise), pp. 404 –493 in Handbook of the Birds of the World (del Hoyo, J., A. Elliott & D.A. Christie, eds).

Vol. 14. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. Gilliard, E.T. 1969. Birds of Paradise and Bowerbirds. London: Weindenfeld & Nicholson. Nunn, G.B., and J. Cracraft. 1996. Phylogenetic relationships among the major lineages of the birds-of-paradise (Paradisaeidae) using mitochondrial DNA gene sequences. Molec. Phylog. Evol. 5: 445-459. Schodde, R., and L. Christidis. 2014. Relicts from Tertiary Australasia: undescribed families and subfamilies of songbirds (Passeriformes) and their zoogeographic signal. Zootaxa 3786: 501-522. Sibley, C.G., and J.E. Ahlquist. 1990. Phylogeny and Classification of Birds: A Study in Molecular Evolution. Yale Univ. Press, New Haven, CT. Sibley, C.G., and J.E. Ahlquist. 1990.

Phylogeny and Classification of Birds: a Study of Molecular Evolution. Yale Univ. Press, New Haven, CT.

Question: Birds of paradise are members of which family
Answer: Crow